15

Email this story to a friend

I made this decision because it is the right step for this country I love. I have never shied away from a fight for a cause I believe in. But, as it became clear that my potential nomination would spark an enduring partisan battle, I concluded that it would be wrong to allow this debate to continue distracting from urgent national priorities …

I have never sought in any way, shape or form to mislead the American people. To do so would run counter to my character and my life of public service. But in recent weeks, new lines of attack have been raised to malign my character and my career. Even before I was nominated for any new position, a steady drip of manufactured charges painted a wholly false picture of me. This has interfered increasingly with my work on behalf of the United States at the United Nations and with America’s agenda.

Rice names four reasons she made her decision:

1. “[M]y commitment to public service is rooted in the belief that our nation’s interests must be put ahead of individual ones.”

2. “I deeply respect Congress’s role in our system of government.”

3. “[T]he American people expect us to come together to keep our nation safe.”